Here are the practice questions from this week’s written exam practice at The Alfred ICU, with recommended reading from Lifeinthefastlane.com’s Critical Care Compendium:
Q1.
A MET call is called for a 35 year-old male with a history of intravenous drug use. He has a blood pressure of 85/55 mmHg, heart rate 130/min, temperature 38.5C and SpO2 96% on air. You suspect infectious endocarditis as he has a newly identified pan-systolic murmur and peripheral oedema.
- Which valve is most likely to be affected? (10%)
- List the clinical features of infectious endocarditis (50%)
- Outline the specific therapies for infectious endocarditis that are appropriate in this case (40%)
Learn more here:
- http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ccc/infective-endocarditis/
- http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ccc/infective-endocarditis-echocardiography/
Q2.
Compare and contrast the use of propofol, midazolam and dexmedetomdine for sedation of mechanically ventilated patients.
Learn more here:
- http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ccc/sedation-in-icu/
- http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ccc/dexmedetomidine/
- http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ccc/midazolam/
- http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ccc/propofol/
Q3.
Regarding airway management:
- Explain the physiological basis for prolonged safe apnea times from administration of 15 L/min oxygen via nasal prongs to an apnoeic patient (40%)
- Discuss the use of ketamine as an induction agent for emergency intubation of critically ill patients (60%)
Learn more here:
You can access all the previous practice questions since 2014 here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Ta8IvVaVtc5Il7-kJwj6qKGu54OmifJGRUWCXud8dY/edit
See this link on INTENSIVE for exam resources:
https://intensiveblog.com/resources/#3